IT’S the big countdown to the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2016. Under a fortnight to go, then it’s 12 action-packed days from September 29 to October 10, 2016, culminating in the Gala Dinner and presentation of the annual Manchester Food and Drink Awards, this year in The Palace Hotel.
So act swiftly to snap up tickets for the delicious events you fancy. Of course, there’s lots of free action, too, in what is the UK’s largest urban food celebration.
We can’t think of an equivalent anywhere to stand-outs such as the Spanish Trail and the Hidden Banquets series. And if you have been wowed on BBC2’s Great British Menu by the culinary wizardry of The French’s Adam Reid, you can experience it at first hand when he runs a three day (Oct4-6) pop-up restaurant at The Festival Hub in Albert Square.
The Hidden Banquets have certainly captured the imagination. These allow festival-goers to explore some of the city’s secret and jaw dropping spaces while enjoying food by some of the best chefs around. Access comes courtesy of developers Allied London, who have teamed up with MFDF for the series.
Kicking it all off on Friday, September 30 is ‘Innovation’ by Aiden Byrne, head chef at Manchester House, inside London Road Fire Station. In this one-off banquet 200 lucky ticket holders will dine inside the old engine room of the building. It’s already sold out, but tickets are available for the further three Hidden Banquets.
Next up on Saturday, October 1 at London Road Fire Station it’s ‘Technology’ by Deliveroo with separate courses deliveroo’d fresh from five client restaurants – Tampopo, Salvi’s, Almost Famous, Scene and Vapiano. Wine is by Veeno.
On Thursday, October 6, the sweet-toothed trio who make up MilkJam – Claire ‘Ginger’s Comfort Emporium’ Kelsey, Charlotte ‘BakeOrama’ O’Toole and Nicki ‘Lush Brownies’ Griffiths – unleash ‘TV’ by MilkJam’, their six course experimental dessert banquet there.
Then it’s the turn of ‘Industry’ by Dan Doherty inside The Bonded Warehouse on Saturday, October 8 raising funds for the Action Against Hunger charity. Buy tickets for these and other events via the Festival website.
There’s a stellar line-up of chefs and food heroes, restaurants and bars lined up for the 19th festival. Confirmed culinary stars so far include…
Nadiya Hussain Great British Bake Off winner and the country’s darling of all things delicious and fluffy, Nadiya will be performing in the Live Cookery Theatre and sharing her home grown baking tips on Saturday, October 8.
Aiden Byrne Our city’s own chef superstar, Aiden will be performing live at the Festival, as well as contributing to the Hidden Banquets spectacular.
Nacho Manzano Executive chef of Iberica, as well as holding three Michelin stars in his native Spain, Nacho will be visiting Manchester especially for the Festival and hosting a one-off dinner with Mark Poynton of Alimentum in Cambridge on Tuesday, October 4.
Susy Atkins One of UK’s best known and loved wine writers and experts, Susy Atkins will be stepping out of Saturday Kitchen straight to Manchester, where she’ll be performing at MFDF’s second annual Three Wine Women event on September 29, alongside...
Kate Goodman, BBC personality, passionate wine expert and founder of the award-winning Reserve merchants in Didsbury, will be back on board for The Big Indie Wine Fest on October 7 and 8.
Jackie Kearney Author of Vegan Street Food, Master Chef Runner Up and general street food legend, Jackie Kearney will be gracing MFDF with her meat and dairy free super powers with an experimental vegan banquet at The Hub on Saturday, October 8.
At the heart of much of this star-studded action will the Festival Hub in Albert Square, which promises to be bigger and better than ever this year thanks to a whole new design, layout and some exciting additions. Free to enter, open from 12noon-11pm daily until October 9 and offering at its bespoke pop up food village the city’s best mix of street food traders (from Manchester and beyond), Marstons Ale Trail Bar, Vin Van Voom Wine, the MFDF live music stage and the now legendary Manchester’s 100 Greatest Beer Bar. In addition there’ll be a rolling programme of pop up events, mini festivals, masterclasses and more. Here are some big ToM recommendations:
Baratxuri In The City Festival Hub, October 7
The amazing team behind Ramsbottom’s Baratxuri pintxos bar will be bringing their delicious Basque Country themed menu to the Festival Hub guest restaurant for one night only. Ticketed.
The MFDF Big Indie Wine Fest Whitworth Art Gallery, October 7 and 8.
One of the Festival’s longest standing and most beloved events finds its spiritual home at last, as it comes to a venue that can finally equal the beauty of the wines on offer from some of the best best independent wine merchants from across the UK. Ticketed.
Italian Festival in association with Salvi’s Festival Hub, October 2.
MFDF have teamed up with Manchester’s authentic Italian food business, Salvi’s, to stage a weekend dedicated to the likes of buffalo mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Prosecco, pizza, gelato, olive oil, salami, Parma ham, Primitivo and stacks more. Plus there’ll be a “20 Metre Pizza” street collaboration as well as dedicated ‘Italian heritage’ walks around the city. Free.
Three Wine Women Festival Hub, September 29.
After the success of last year’s ‘Three Wine Women’ visit this year MFDF is restaging the event on a new theme and with a new visiting ‘wine woman’! Susy Atkins will join the BBC’s Kate Goodman (owner of Didsbury’s Reserve Wine Shop) and Evuna Manchester’s Jane Dowler who will make up this year’s trio of talent hosting an extraordinary evening of fabulous wines. Ticketed.
Great Manchester Bake-off Festival Hub, October 9.
Following the success of last year’s Great Manchester Bake Off, MFDF is on the search again for Manchester’s greatest bakers! The MFDF Bake Off Champion will be crowned at the Festival Hub on Sunday, October 9, where a huge Festival Bake Sale will be taking place. Free.
And we can’t neglect the Festival Fringe, a feast of wild and wonderful food events across Manchester’s spectacular restaurants, bars, cafes, delis, museums and more. Check out the full list here.
Then there’s the Bookatable Festival Feast will be a series of limited edition, bespoke, dining menus, created by Manchester’s restaurants especially for the Manchester Food and Drink festival in association with Bookatable.
The Festival Brochure is widely available across the city or you can download it here.